INQ149

TitleLong
National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority Operational Review
INQAuthor
Mr Magne Ognedal, Dr Derek Griffiths & Mr Bruce Lake
Year
InquiryType
DisasterType
State
Status

Recommendations for this Inquiry

INQ-ref REC-UID CODE SubCode SrcNUM Recommendation
INQ149 REC149-3128 E - Agency Organisation 29 - Operational Health and Safety Recommendation 1

National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) should develop guidelines in consultation with stakeholders to provide clarity and consistency to the process which ultimately will result in better safety outcomes. 

INQ149 REC149-3139 B - Preparedness 39 - Disaster Risk Management Recommendation 12

The industry should develop in conjunction with the Regulator a process for addressing the need to maintain the risk profile of a facility moving into extended life operation at the same risk profile as when it was within design life.

INQ149 REC149-3140 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 13

The industry should provide advice to NOPSA on where the regulations do not provide sufficient clarity and consider developing broad policy/process guidelines in consultation with the regulator to provide clarity and consistency. Regulators should not take personal views or preferences.

INQ149 REC149-3141 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 14

NOPSA should complete the next revision of Safety Case guidelines in consultation and agreement with stakeholders and continue its program to achieve consistency with a firmer hand from the CEO and management.

INQ149 REC149-3142 A - Responsibility 19 - Offences Recommendation 15

NOPSA should use encouragement as the primary tool of enforcing compliance provided willingness to improve is exhibited by the players.

INQ149 REC149-3143 A - Responsibility 21 - Role of Commonwealth Government Recommendation 16

The role of the advisory Board, namely to give advice to Ministers and NOPSA when asked, should be made clear to Board members and all stakeholders. The Board and NOPSA should consider the need for a clear description of who does what based on the legislated responsibilities of the NOPSA CEO.

INQ149 REC149-3144 E - Agency Organisation 29 - Operational Health and Safety Recommendation 17

The Safety Case proponent should be allowed some flexibility to involve appropriate experience matched with the proposed workforce competencies to enable the Safety Case to be developed with value adding processes.

INQ149 REC149-3145 A - Responsibility 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review Recommendation 18

NOPSA should consider an audit regime that targets Greenfields operations at commencement of operations.

INQ149 REC149-3146 A - Responsibility 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry Recommendation 19

NOPSA should consider establishing a small forum for consultation consisting of representatives of relevant stakeholders. The representatives should have standing, with authority to participate in decision making and take on commitment on behalf of their stakeholder group.

INQ149 REC149-3138 A - Responsibility 38 - Agency/Department Reporting Recommendation 11

The current KPI measures used by the Regulator and industry need to be reassessed and the performance indicators need to be related to the risk profiles of the industry.

INQ149 REC149-3137 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 10

As professional competency is one of the key pillars of any Safety Case, commitment to training for current and future needs remains a fundamental requirement for achieving best practice outcomes in safety.

INQ149 REC149-3129 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 2

The consequences of the disapplication of the Navigation Act 1912 should be analysed, the actual consequences identified and unintended consequences addressed.

INQ149 REC149-3130 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 3

The regulations pertaining to vessels of opportunity or their interpretation should be changed to facilitate a risk based approach to regulation. This approach will be consistent with the approach taken in other jurisdictions.

INQ149 REC149-3131 A - Responsibility 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry Recommendation 4

The exploration/production operator making all major decisions related to petroleum activities (i.e. selection of rig, well design and selection of service companies) should be made responsible for demonstrating to the regulator that drilling operations can be conducted safely.

INQ149 REC149-3132 A - Responsibility 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry Recommendation 5

Coverage of the regime should be increased to cover the complete hydrocarbons production system from wells through to custody transfer point or reasonable physical/technical system boundary.

INQ149 REC149-3133 A - Responsibility 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry Recommendation 6

Because some issues related to emergency response are beyond any single operator and usually occur outside the title area, there is a need for the representatives of the offshore industry to work together with other governments, interested and involved parties to develop the strategies to be util

INQ149 REC149-3134 E - Agency Organisation 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform Recommendation 7

Improved and agreed guidelines for Safety Case application and assessment, including suggested structure and content, would alleviate many current problems related to Safety Case processes.

INQ149 REC149-3135 E - Agency Organisation 29 - Operational Health and Safety Recommendation 8

The initial acceptance of a new facility Safety Case should be in conjunction with inspection of a facility upon commencement of operations.

INQ149 REC149-3136 E - Agency Organisation 16 - Training and behaviour Recommendation 9

There is a need for industry in consultation with NOPSA to establish a priority programme of accredited education modules in the Safety Case regime targeting stakeholders in the regime at their respective levels to improve the understanding of the Safety Case and correspondent responsibilities.

INQ149 REC149-3147 E - Agency Organisation 29 - Operational Health and Safety Recommendation 20

As all stakeholders have responsibility for safe outcomes, decisions regarding target subjects for safety promotion need to have the support of all stakeholders including NOPSA and the workforce.